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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
The lead character lived in a complete fantasy world and was truly painful to read about. She had such fantastical ideas about life and no sense of self reflection, eye rolls galore while attempting to read.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one started a bit slower and I was worried I wouldn't care for it. It was predictable but I liked the range of characters and how everyone likeable the main character, love interest, and all their friends were. And the dog Harold definitely stole the show.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a really fun book that made me fall in love with romance books again. Typical Kinsella, it was light and funny and romantic.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Kindle copy of LOVE YOUR LIFE was provided via the Goodreads' giveaway program. I am not being compensated for this review, and my review is not influenced by receiving the book for free.
I love Sophie Kinsella's works, especially her standalone books - they're the literary equivalent of a hot cup of cocoa and a cozy blanket on the couch during a winter's night - so I was excited to read her latest story of a love that seems too good to be true meeting reality, all with a cute dog.
I didn't find Ava as annoying as some reviewers, but her behavior did grate at times, especially when she jumped the gun on her relationship with Matt in the early parts of the book ("we might have kids! your parents might be my parents-in-law!" GIRL YOU HAVEN'T EVEN KNOWN HIM FOR A MONTH, CHILL). I definitely liked Ava's friends more than I liked Matt's roommates, and of course most of Matt's family were unbearable.
I don't think this will ever be one of my favorite Kinsella books, but it is incredibly readable - I tore through it so quickly, I was amazed when I finished it in about a week. The plot itself is an interesting one, kind of taking a hammer to the "love at first sight" trope, and I liked how Kinsella explored it, including the Matt-land and Ava-land stuff. And I liked the dog just fine!
Also, major props to Kinsella for having a supporting character with lupus who is loved and aided unconditionally by her friends and also highlights how difficult it can be for folks with chronic illnesses and invisible disabilities to navigate the world, even with something as simple-seeming as a parking spot. Kinsella also wrote a great book about a MC with anxiety, FINDING AUDREY, which I recommend.
Overall, LOVE YOUR LIFE is a super-cute comfort read for the upcoming winter season, it's just so cozy. I wish some characters like Genevieve had been developed more beyond being obvious foils for Ava to overcome, and I still don't feel very connected to the other people Ava met during her writing retreat, but everything felt wrapped up well enough at the end (albeit a little quickly). I'm surely going to be looking out for Kinsella's next book.
I love Sophie Kinsella's works, especially her standalone books - they're the literary equivalent of a hot cup of cocoa and a cozy blanket on the couch during a winter's night - so I was excited to read her latest story of a love that seems too good to be true meeting reality, all with a cute dog.
I didn't find Ava as annoying as some reviewers, but her behavior did grate at times, especially when she jumped the gun on her relationship with Matt in the early parts of the book ("we might have kids! your parents might be my parents-in-law!" GIRL YOU HAVEN'T EVEN KNOWN HIM FOR A MONTH, CHILL). I definitely liked Ava's friends more than I liked Matt's roommates, and of course most of Matt's family were unbearable.
I don't think this will ever be one of my favorite Kinsella books, but it is incredibly readable - I tore through it so quickly, I was amazed when I finished it in about a week. The plot itself is an interesting one, kind of taking a hammer to the "love at first sight" trope, and I liked how Kinsella explored it, including the Matt-land and Ava-land stuff. And I liked the dog just fine!
Also, major props to Kinsella for having a supporting character with lupus who is loved and aided unconditionally by her friends and also highlights how difficult it can be for folks with chronic illnesses and invisible disabilities to navigate the world, even with something as simple-seeming as a parking spot. Kinsella also wrote a great book about a MC with anxiety, FINDING AUDREY, which I recommend.
Overall, LOVE YOUR LIFE is a super-cute comfort read for the upcoming winter season, it's just so cozy. I wish some characters like Genevieve had been developed more beyond being obvious foils for Ava to overcome, and I still don't feel very connected to the other people Ava met during her writing retreat, but everything felt wrapped up well enough at the end (albeit a little quickly). I'm surely going to be looking out for Kinsella's next book.
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes